Button-feeding mechanism.



l. LARSEN.

v BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISIVI. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5,19l6.

152392,79? Patentedsept. 11,1917.

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:.LARSEN.

4 BUTTON FEEDING IVIIECHANISM.

APPLICATIOHFILED lULY 5.1916.

Patented @m .11, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l. LARSEN.

BUTTON FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JuLY 5, 191s.

I. LARSEN.

BUTTON FEEDING IVIECHANISIVI.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY 5. IBIGI PatentedSept. 11, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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IVERT LARSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, `.ASSIGNOR TO F. H. SMITH MANUFACTURING' COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS'.

BUTTON-FEEDING- MECHANISM.

Original application iiled November 13, 1915, Serial No. 61,299.

1916. Serial No. 107,715.

1o all whom t may concern.'

Beit known that I, Ivnnr LAnsnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county or' Cook and State oi' Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates particularly to button-feeding mechanism which is well adapted for use in connection with button-setting machines. The present application constitutes a division of my application No. 61,299, filed November 13, 1915.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of button-feeding mechanism, the invention being especially useful in connection with the button-hopper, which is pivotally mounted and adapted to be thrown to an inoperative position.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a right-side elevational view (facing with the machine) of the top of the main standard of a buttonsetting machine, and the mechanisms mounted thereon; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing some of the parts in section; Fig. 8, an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated atline 3 of Fig. 1, showing the button-hopper and the button-feeding mechanism associated therewith; Fig. 4L, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 4: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4:; Fig. G, a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing certain parts in section 4and illustrating the hopper in a rearwardly Patented Sept.. 11, '1917.

Divided and. this application filed July 5,

on the removable top-section of the guide A5; a wire-severing and staple-forming plunger B, which moves in the guide A5; a staple-driving plunger C which is slidably connected with the plunger B and confined therewith in the guide A5; a depressible staple-forming male member, or post, D, movablein a forwardly and upwardly in clined member with which the frame-member or mounting A3 is provided at right angles to the guide A5, as shown in Fig. 2; interchangeable, detachable button-chutes, or magazine-chutes, EE', adapted to accommodate buttons of diferent sizes; a vertically` movable actuating-plunger or connectingrod F actuated by a foot-lever F (Fig. 7) a tubular rock-shaft Gr mounted on or carried by a boss 1, with which the framemember mounting A3 is provided at its rear portion, the member G having an actuatingarm '2, joined by a stud-and-slot connection 3 to the connecting-rod F, having also an arm 4- to coact with the lower end of the depressible staple-forming post D, and having also a roller-equipped cam-arm 5 adapted to actuate the rock-arm or lever which actuates the staple-forming plunger, and having also an arm orelbow G which has pin-and-slot connection 7 with the link S adapted to actuate the rock-shaft which serves to actuate the staple-forming plunger and the arm which actuates the button-feeding mechanism with which the hopper is equipped; a rock-shaft II mounted in rearwardly-extending furcations, or arms, 9 and 10, with which the rear upper portion of the guide A5 is equipped, the rock-shaft I-I having ixedlv mounted thereon a lever II"- which affords an aotuatino` arm 11 with which the upper end of the link 8 is joined b v a pivot 12 and which affords also a camarm 13 whose upper end is equipped with a cam-roller 14 adapted to actuate the stapledriving plunger C; an arm H2 liXedly secured to one end of the rock-shaft I-I and serving to actuate the button-feeding mechanism through the medium of links H3H4; a rock-lever I rotatablv mounted on the rockshaft H and provided with an actuatingarm equipped with a cam 15 adapted to be actuated in the wire-severing and staplet'orming operation by the cam-arm 5. the rock-lever I having also an arm 16 connected by a short link 17 to the rear upper end of the wire-severing 'and staple-forming plunger B; a button-hopper J provided at its front portion with depending arms 18 and 19 mounted on the rock-shaft H which serves as a pivotal support, the arm 18 having an extension 18u below the point of pivotal support with which co-acts a springpressed plunger 18) mounted on the framemember A3 parallel with the guide A5, the arrangement being such as to permit the hopper J to be forcibly swung to any one of three positions; button-feeding mechanism J mounted in and on the hopper J and actuated through the medium of the links `H3 and H4; stop-mechanism K controlled by a link K connected with a fixed arm or projection 20 which forms an eX- tension of the furcation of frame-member arm 9 through which the rock-shaft H extends; and wire-feeding mechanism L mounted on the frame-member A3 through the medium of a bracket 21 and receiving its supply'of wire from a reel (not shown).

The construction of the frame, the wirefeeding mechanism, and the button-setting mechanism need not be described in detail.

As has been indicated, the button-hopper J is adapted to be thrown rearwardly away from the rear end of the chute E. The purpose is to enable the chute E to be removed and a substitute-chute E applied, as shown in Fig. 6. The means whereby the chutes E and E are made interchangeable need not be described in detail in the present application. The extension 18a of the arm 18 is provided at its lower edge with two recesses 22 and 28, and back of the recess 23 with a curved surface 2li. rlhe roller with-which the suing-held alunv'er 18b is ecuiwed is l e l e l ll adapted to engage either one o-f the recesses 22 and 23 or to ride upon the curved 'surface 24, if it be desired to drop the hopper rearwardly farther than the position shown in Fig. 6. TWhen the roller engages the recess 22, the hopper is in the normal feeding position shown in Fig. 1; and when the roller is in engagement with the recess 28, the hopper is held in the inclined or intermediate position shown in Fig. G. In this position, the stop-mechanism K locks the feed mechanism against operation, notwithstanding the friction-rings actuated by the links H" and H continue to oscillate.

The main actuating plunger or connecting-rod F may be given a movement of reciprocation by any desired means. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the rod F is adapted to be actuated by the foot-lever F, which is returned to its upper position by a spring 25. As has been stated, the upper end of the connecting-rod F has stud-and-slot connections 3 with the arm 2 of the rock-lever G which the connecting-rod F actuates. 4The connections 3 comprise a laterally projecting-stud on .the front end of the arm 2 and a vertical slot in one side of the upper portion of the connecting-rod F, as will be understood from Fig. 7 V

A brief description of the general operation of the machine may be given. In the normal position of the parts, the roller of the cam arm 5 is substantially in engagement with the cam-arm 15 of the `rock-lever I. During the first action in the cycle of operations, the wire is fed through the medium of the mechanism L in a manner which need not be now described, this action being caused by the first movement of the connecting-rod F. During the wire-feeding action the rock-lever G remains idle, owing to the stud-and-slot connection. Then the member G is rotated, bringing the cam-arm into action and turning the rock-lever I through the medium of the cam-arm 15, the rock-shaft H, in the meantime, remaining idle, owing to the pin-and-slot connection 7. Subsequently, the rock-shaft H is rotated, and through the medium of the rock-lever H, which is rigid with the shaft H, the staple-driving plunger C is caused to perform its working stroke. The rock-shaft H is returned to its normal position by the spring 25 connected with the foot-lever F and therock-lever I is returned to its normal position by a laterally-extending stop 26, which engages a shoulder 27 with which t-he cam-arm 15 is equipped. The precise manner of operation of these parts is of no consequence so far as the present application is concerned.

ln the preferred construction, the hopper J comprises a side-member 28 carried by the pivot-arm 18; an intermediate vert-ical plate 29 carried by the pivot-arm 19; a detachable hopper-section 80 connected with the intermediate plate by screws 31; and a top-plate 32 joined by pivots 33 to the side-member 28. The members 28 and 29 afford a housing 3i for an endless conveyer-chain. The members 28 and 29 are secured together by screws 35.

The button-feeding mechanism J co1n' la and lf2 embracing said disks; clutch-V rollers 411) and 42h contained between the inneiisurfaces of the rings and said disks; and bevel surfacesell? and 42 afforded by recesses with which the disks Z.lll and 42 are provided, respectively, the rings Ll1 and 42a Y being equipped, respectively, `with arms -lld and 42d connected with the arms H3 and H4. The arrangement is such that when the arm H2 swings upwardlynduring the depression ofthe foot-lever F, thus lifting the links H3 and H4, vthe ring-` 42a will turn the shaft 43 (which forms also a part of the buttonfeeding mechanism J) mounted on ythe shaft 36 to turn 'withthe disks 41 and 42; a sleeve ortubular rock-shaft 44 journaled on the shaft 36 and adapted to be rotated through the medium of the link K" `when the hopper is swung to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 6; a cam 45 carried by the sleeve A44; and a spring-held detent or `p'awl 46 carried lby a` pivot 47 mounted on the hopper and having formed integrally therewith a cam 48 which engages the cam 45. Vhen the hopper is turned to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 44 is rotated to move the cam 45 from beneath the cam-arm 48, thereby permitting the detent 46 to engage thel teeth of the gear-.wheel 43, so that the mechanism J will not be turned when the machine is operated, assuming the 4hopper to be in the position shown in Fig. 6.`

The gear 43, as shown in Fig. 3, is provided with a sleeve 43a, upon which the disks 41 and 42 are mounted. Interposed between the disks, which are provided with suitable sockets, are coil-springs 49, which tend to force thedisks apart. The disks are confined between .the gear 43 and the disk or knob 50, which have threaded connection withl shaft 36. Fiber disks 51 are interposed between the'disk 41 and the member 50 and between the disk 42 and the gear 43, and the construction is such that the desired amount of frictionI can v"be created to communicate ample power to turnithe shaft 36 in the normal working of the machine, but should the machine become clogged in the feeding of the buttons, a slippage will occur, thereby obviating danger of breakage.

The members 28 and 29 which form the housing for the conveyer-chain are provided, as will be understood from Fig. 3, with ledges which adord a slotted horizontal button run-way 52 through the slot 53 of which work the button-conveying arms 54 with which alternate links of the chain 37 are provided. The walls of the slot 53 are beveled to facilitate the lodgment of buttons therein as they are elevated and dumped by the teeth of the wheel 40. rlhe buttons are elevated by the wheel 40 and deposited in the run-way 52 in a manner similar to the operation described in Patent No. 1,126,091, granted to David C. Sasseman, January 26, 1915.

The buttons are delivered by the conveyerwheel, a

chain 37 to the chute E, which also serves as a magazine. IThe buttons gravitate down the chute E, and their passage from the chute E is controlled by the escapement Ab'. lt sometimes happens that it is desirable to substitute a chute, such as the chute E shown in Fig. 6. This is desirable where a limited number of buttons of a different size than the buttons contained in the hopper Gr are to be applied. In such case, the hopper G may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position the gear 43 is locked against actuation. The chute E is then substituted for the chute E, and the machine will operate to apply buttons supplied by the chute E', while the regular button-feeding mechanism of the machine is out of operation. The shafts 38 and 39, upon which are mounted the wheels carrying the conveyer-chain 37, are driven by means of a pinion 38LL on the shaft 3S, actuated by an idler 38b which meshes with the gear 43.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitation should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be considered as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. i

That I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. Button-feeding mechanism comprising a hopper, a button-elevating wheel therein equipped with a shaft projecting through one side of the hopper, a button run-way to which the buttons are elevated by said conveyer chain having links equipped with members adapted to move the buttons along the run-way, a pair of clutchdisks and a gear-wheel mounted to rotate with the shaft, clutch-rings mounted on said disks and adapted toalternately actuate the shaft in the same direction, said clutch-rings equipped with actuating-arms, actuatinglinks connected with said arms, and'means for communicating motion from said-shaft to theconveyer-chain. 2. Button-feeding mechanism comprising a hopper, a button-elevating wheel therein, a shaft on which said wheel is mounted and which projects through one side of the hopper, a button run-way into which the buttons are elevated by said wheel, a conveyer-chain associated therewith, a gearwheel fixedly mounted on said shaft, a disk adjustably mounted on said shaft, clutchdisks frictionally held between said gear and said adjustably-mounted disk and serving to actuate said shaft and gear, clutchrings mounted on said clutch-disks and adapted to alternately actuate the shaft in the same direction, and means for actuating said clutch-rings.

3. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a hopper, button-feeding mechanism associated therewith and including an 'actuating-shaft, a pivotal support for said hopper, means for maintaining the hopper in a given position, a pair of disks through the medium of which said shaft is actuated, rings encircling said disks and equipped with arms, ratchet-devices between said disks and said rings, links connected with said arms, and actuating means for said links supported concentrica-lly with the pivotal support of said hopper.

l. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a pivotally-mounted hopper, an endless conveyer mounted therein, a feedwheel associated therewith, a shaft through the medium of which said endless conveyer and feed-wheel are actuated, an oscillating pivotally-mounted member 'and actuating means therefor, links connected therewith, and a pair of ratchet devices mounted on said shaft and actuated by said links, one of said ratchet-devices working idly when said links are moved in one direction and the other working idly when said links are moved in the other direction.

5. ln means of the character set forth, the combination of a hopper and feeding mechanism mounted thereon, comprising an endless conveyer, an elevating wheel, a shaft serving to actuate said conveyor and wheel, clutch-disks frictionally mounted on Vsaid shaft, means for regulating the friction between the clutch-disks and the shaft, clutchrings mounted on said clutch-disks, frictionrolls interposed between the clutch-disks and clutch-rings, arms projecting from said clutch-rings on opposite sidesy of the shaft, and, actuating links connected with said arms.y

6. Button-feeding mechanism comprising a hopper, button-elevating means mounted therein, button-conveying mechanism associated therewith, a shaft through which the y button-elevating means and button-conveying mechanism are actuated, a pair of clutchdevices mounted on said shaft, each of said,

` into which the buttons are elevated by said wheel, a conveyor-chain associated therewith, a gear-wheel fiXedly mounted on said shaft, clutch-devices through themedium of which said gear-wheel is actuated, means for communicating motion from said gear-wheel to said conveyer-chain, and a lock-device for said gear-wheel which is automatically thrown to the locking position vwhen the hopper is swung on its pivotal support,

8. Button-feeding mechanism comprising a hopper having depending arms, a rockshaft extending through said arms and equipped with an actuating arm, means for actuating said rock-shaft, a pair of links connected with said actuating arm, abuttonelevating wheel in said hopper, a shaft on which said wheel is mounted and which projects through one side of the hopper, a button run-way4 into: which the buttons are elevated by said wheel, an endless con- Veyer associated with said run-way `and through which said shaft extends. freely, a

gear fixedly fmounted on said shaft and.

equipped with a sleeve, and clutch-devices frictionally connected with saidgear and actuated by said links. i

IVERT LARSEN.

In the presence of- NELLIE B. lhmnnoim,` OTTILIE C. Avisos.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh byaddressing the. Gom'niissioner' of Patents.Y

Washington, D. C. 

